The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1887-11-30


Elise, hear me. 1t is not too late My
lsaae,e am sure, has not cut me of in his
VIII. VIII you not return with me, and for
the sake Of the past let me call you my own
Elise-my wifeip
s'Hushrn said the girl warningly, as man
approached II could do nothing Of the
kind. Let me present you to my husband,
Monsieur Fennel.r
And to his intense disgust and modification
Frank found himself the next instant in the
embrace of vivacious and voluble French
man.
The new view of the lovely siren in her
eoaiseness and her mammon worship, to-
gether with this presentation of a heavy,
vulgar man past mic &c age as her husband,
was a combination of circumstances that
completely disenamored Frank Duncan and
he fed precipitately as soon as released from
the mans clutches amid peals Of laughter
from the giddy French girl and cultural
adieus from her male companion.
Old Mr.. Somers sat In his dingy little law
Office, scratching his ear with his pen and
glancing occasionally at a letter he held in
his hand The letter was from Frank Dun
can, and informed the lawyer that he, Frank
Duncan, would call upon him in day or two
on business relating to his deceased uncle's
will.
'sThe Young scamp must know that Helen
is the possessor of the old mans estate. He
will be counting her Tor her money, aid he
doesn't deserve such girl any way said
Somers with growl ''And worse than all,
to think John Duncan has fixed It in such
shape that--but I'll deceive him little
The gruff old lawyer had in a sense taken
Helen under his care since Mr.. John Dun.
cans death, and watched her welfare with u
jealous eye; so when Frank presented HIM
self he said, brusquely;
ssYou are cut off without a cent. young
man, and you deserve it,
Frank colored, but felt the justice of the
rebuke; but he ventured:
Sand Helen-Miss Morleyir
"Oh she is provided with a moderate an
nuity. The rest goes, l believe, to some in
stitution-ahem,r said the lawyer choking a
| little at the lie.
thank Godln said Frank impulsively.
The old lawyer sprang to his feet in a pas
sion, and facing the astonished young fellow
shouted: "You thank God then that she is n
beggar, too, do your
81 am glad that may go to her and COM
| fort her, and be to her what once was, with
out suspicion that come from mercenary
motives, said Frank exultantly.
"Ahem! That's all right, young man. But
| you must be aware that your past conduct
doesn't recommend you very highly. speak
plainly, for Helen Morley is my ward
! Frank WINGED under this lash, but all the
same he was resolved to bear ii in silence,
and the scales had fallen from his eyes now,
and he remembered trifling incidents in their
ves-Helen's and his own-which led him
to believe that he had thrown away pearl.
! He would seek to recover 1t again, and was
glad that the impediment OF money did not
bar the way. He knew full well that his
foolish infatnation for the gay superficial
! Elise, which he had mistaken for love, would
prove formidable obstacle; but with youth,
repentance, perseverance and an earnest de
votion to his purpose he hoped to win Helen's
esteem first, and afterward, perhaps, her
| love.
"Confound the young scamp, he's got good
points, after all, growled Somers.
And 80 Helen thought when the cid lawyer
told her about It and made her understand
how difficult it would be to keep Frank long
/ in ignorance of the provisions of his uncle's
| will
Three months are brief measure of time
as the ages roll onward, and yet three short
/ mouths ARE sometimes SO crowded with
events bearing directly upon our lives that
| years, aye an age, are as nothing in coinpar-
| ison
Three months of pcntcnce, OF unobtrusive
devotion to Helen, of evident shame for his
| past conduct and an unmistakable determine
alton TO atone for it II possible, on the part
| of Frank Duncan, won the callous old lawyer
4 to believe in his sincerity.
And better than all, IL began to tell upon
the hard wall Of reserve that had grown up be
| tween Hclen's unquenched love and her pride
till it finally crumbled away.
"You forgive me at last, Helen, but | cal
never forgive myself for being so stupidity
blind and for having caused you years OF
| pain BESIDES said Frank, tenderly.
Let the dead bury their dead Frank; but
let us who now live again live only in the
present, and hope for compensation for our
past sorrows in tho FUTURE
"And thank God that did not have &c
try TO WOO youas an heiress. will work foi
you and We will be happy
Helen coloi-ed and was silent for a moment
Steps were heard in the hall and Mr.. Someis
was announced
ssCnt off without q cent and yet happy, aIr
/ parently,r said the lawyer brusquely, taking
out legal document and reading: "And II
Frank Duncan forsalle his foolish object and
marry my adopted daughter, Helen Morley
within three years and six months from tbs
date of this testament, do bcqueath to him
etcn
Better than you deserved, young man"
Helen blushed as Frank caught her in hi
arins.-E A. Boyden in New York Mercury